Golf bag trundle



1952 F. ALTER 2, ,360

GOLF BAG TRUNDLE Filed April 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR;

FRITZ ALTER F. ALTER GOLF BAG TRUNDLE Nov. 25, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1950 Nov. 25, 1952 F, ALTER 2,619,360

'GOLF BAG TRUNDLE Filed April 25, 1950 .5 Sheets-Sheet 3 a I f 5 5 INVENTOR: FRITZ ALTER BY ATT'YS Nov. 25, 1952 F. ALTER 6 9 36 GOLF BAG TRUNDLE Filed April 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR:

FRITZ ALTER Nov. 25, 1952 F. ALTER 2,619,360

GOLF BAG TRUNDLE Filed April 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. l8

. INVENTOR. FR IT Z A LT E R AT T'YS Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 4 Claims. (Cl. 280-42) This invention relates to trundle carts, particu- I larly such as are utilizable for supporting and transporting a golf bag in the field of play.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of cart having a frame of tripod form equipped with a pair of wheels and having improved mechanism for bracing the frame members in their normal position for supporting a golf bag in either upright or slightly inclined positions and arranged to facilitate the shifting of the members into compact form for storage in a locker or automobile compartment; to provide improved mechanism of this kind in which the parts may be shifted between their contracted and expanded positions by simple operations; and to provide an improved mechanism of this kind which can be subjected to careless treatment without disturbance of the relation of its parts in their normal positions for use.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device with its parts in their normal relation for supporting and transporting the golf bag.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same showing the parts in their contracted position.

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective showing the manner in which the foot or ledge upon which the golf bag rests is attached to the main frame bar.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken from the right of Fig. 2 to illustrate the relation of connecting the operating handle to the wheel spreading mechanism with the parts of the cart in their contracted position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view with the parts in their expanded position.

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional details of the cam mechanism that frictionally locks the handle against shifting out of its position of adjustment, the plane of section being indicated by line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of one of the wheel axial housings.

Fig. 10 is a corresponding view with the front plate of th axle housing removed and illustrating the cooperating relation of the housing to its respective side frame member and toggle link.

Fig. 11 is a similar perspective showing the relation of these parts when the frame is collapsed.

Fig. 12 is a detail of the toggle mechanism in a partly collapsed position.

Fig. 13 is a corresponding detail showing the toggle links in their wheel bracing relation to one of the frame members.

Figs. 14 and 15 show a modified form of a toggle control mechanism in positions corresponding to those of Figs. 12 and 13.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional detail of the: same taken on line I 6--| 6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of one of a, pair of devices by means of which the golf bag is tied to the main frame bar of the cart.

Figs. 18 and 19 are perspective views explanatory of the operation of the strap buckle.

Fig. 20 is a top view of part of the bag securing device as viewed from the line 26-20 of Fig. 17.

In the form shown in the drawings, the cart has a tripod frame comprising a main frame member 25, a pair of side frame members 26 and a handle bar 21, each of these being a hollow tubular bar. The main frame bar 25 has fast thereon a, bracket fitting 28 to which the side bars are pivoted so as to swing in approximately radial planes toward and away from th main frame bar 25.

Also pivotally connected to the bracket fitting 28 and swingable in a radial plane midway between the planes of movement of the side bars 26 is a guide member 29 in which the handle bar 21 is longitudinally slidable. A somewhat similar guide member 39, slidable along the bar 25 has wings to which the handle bar 21 is pivoted at 3|.

In their relative positions shown in Fig. 1, the side frame members 26 are spread apart and braced in the spread position by toggle links 32, 33 and 34 which are pivotally connected to their respective frame bars 26, 26 and 25 and which are connected together by a saddle 35.

A pair of wheels 36 are journaled on separate axles 31 which are rigidly connected to axle housing members 38. The side frame members 26 are mounted on pivot bearing studs 39 in the housing in relation to stop shoulders 49 and 4! which abut against an edge 42 of the side bar 26 to limit the tilting movement of the wheel housing with respect to the side bar. The toggle links 32 and 33 are pivotally connected to their respective axle housings by pivot bearing studs 43.

Within the housing 38 there is a detent spring M which is suspended from a stud 35 so as to bear between the side bar 38 and the respective toggle link 92 or 33 to yieldingly resist swinging of the toggle link away from each of its limiting positions. As will be seen from Figs. 10 and 11, the toggle link 32 has a square end 46 against which the spring 44 bears when the toggle link 3 is in the horizontal position, as in Fig. 10, and a fiat face 41 against which the detent spring 44 bears when the link 32 is in its vertical position.

Each axle housing 38 has a removable face plate 48 held in place by screws 49 which are threaded into the hollow pivot studs 39 and 43 and an aperture 50 in the axle block The third toggle link 34 is pivoted on a pin 52 on a bracket 53 which is fixed on the main frame member 25. The front end of the link 34 is reduced in width to form a tongue 54 that serves as a finger-hold for lifting the saddle 35 manually to collapse the toggle mechanism so that the wheels 36 can swing inward and forward with the frame members 26 to bring the wheels close to the sides of the golf bag which is indicated in Fig. 1 by broken line 55. The reduction in width of the toggle member 34 forms shoulders 56 which bear on the saddle 35 in the bosom of the angle formed by the front and top portions of that saddle to serve as a fulcrum for the pivotal relation between the link 34 and the saddle 35.

Cooperating with the shoulders 56 to render secure the connection between link 34 and saddle 35, as shown in Fig. 13, there is a lug 56.1 on the saddle that seats in an aperture in link 34.

The adjacent ends of the toggle links 32 and 33 are pivotally mounted on the saddle 35 by bolts 51 and their outer ends are pivotally mounted on the bearing studs 43 in the axle housings. The length of the toggle link 34 is such that the axles 31 will be in approximate horizontal alinement with each other in both the widely separated position in which the wheels are shown in Fig. 1 and the closely retracted position in which they are shown in Fig. 2.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16, the toggle link 34 is replaced by a V shaped bracket 58 having its ends secured by bolts 59 and 69 to the main frame member 25. The upper inclined leg 61 of this bracket serves as a guide coacting with pins 62 and 63 on the saddle 35 to guide the forward and up ward movement of the saddle when the toggle links 32 and 33 are collapsed. To facilitate this movement, the pin 63 carries a roller 64. The angular apex portion of bracket 58 is bent to form a concave shoulder 65 that coacts with the pin 62, as shown in Fig. 16, to releasably is such that the top flange of the saddle 35 forms shoulders limiting the downward movement of the saddle to a position slightly below the position of exact horizontal planar alinement .of the toggle links 32, 33 and 34, thus locking the toggle mechanism against accidental collapsing as a result of shock or pressure on the wheels.

It is to be noted that the toggle links 32 and 33 in the position of Figure 1 are alined so as to brace the wheels 36 firmly apart against lateral shocks and strains, and that in their movement between this spread position and the collapsed position of Fig. 2, the links 32 and 33 lie at all times in a common plane with each other and with the frame arms 26; The toggle link 34 and the alternative bracket structure of Figs. 14 and 16 brace the bag-holding main framev 25 in a forwardly inclined position so that, together with the wheels, the frame members form a stable and sturdy tripod support for the bag in an upright position.

In order to make the collapsing of the toggle mechanism automatically responsive to a certain movement of the handle bar 21 in its guide members, a wire cable 61 is attached to the saddle by an eye 68 and extends over a pulley 69 on the pivot pin 18 which connects the guide sleeve 29 with the bracket 28 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. After passing over the pulley 63, the cable 6'! is fastened to an eye in the head of the pivot pin 3| on the sleeve 30. Thus when the handle 21 is shifted to the retracted position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, the cable 81 will lift the saddle 35, collapsing the toggle mechanism and carrying the wheels to their retracted position.

In order to lock the handle in its extended position where it will serve as a leg for supporting the cart when it is laid backward on the ground, the bracket 28 is equipped with a cam II that presses a spring 12 against the handle bar 2'! looking it frictionally against sliding in the guide member 29. The cam H has a lever arm I3 in convenient position for being grasped by the operator while holding the handle 21.

The main frame member 25 has a forwardly extending foot member 14 at its lower end which carries a plate 15 for the golf bag to rest upon. The foot member 14 is attached to the frame member 25 by two pins 14.] and 14.2. The pin 14.2 is a spring cotter or bolt that is readily removable and the pin 14.| serves as a pivot when the pin 14.2 is removed to allow the foot member 14 to be folded up against the frame bar 25 for convenience in putting the device into convenient form for wrapping in a carton of minimum size for shipment.

The frame bar 25 also has mounted thereon at different distances above the plate 15 a pair of fastening devices 16 that surround and tie the golf bag to the bar 25. Each of these devices comprises a cross bar 11 fastened by a clip 18 to the bar 25, which clip is shaped to form a rib 19 that seats in a groove in the bar 25 to prevent shifting of the cross bar 11 around the bar 25.

The cross bar 11 comprises a channel-shaped member 81 and an interfitting clamp member 82, which cooperate to grip between them the tucked in ends of springs 83. Each of these springs 83 is made of wire bent to U-shape with right-angle bends at its middle portion 83.! so as to have substantially parallel legs positioned to bear against the sides of the golf bag, being then curled up themselves to form loops 84 adjacent to cross bar 11, and having their ends 85 inserted between the bars 8| and 82 where they are clamped by means of tie bolts 86.

A flexible strap 81 is fastened to the bowed outer end of one of the springs 83 and is removably buckled to the bowed end of the other spring 83 by means of an angular clip 88 that has one arm provided with an eye 89 slidably mounted on the upper leg of the spring 83 and large enough to permit the clip 88 to be tilted between the positions in which it is shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

The clip has a tongue 90 that engages a bight 8H in the strap 81 so that when the strap is pulled tightly about the golf bag, the tongue 90 will coact with the end part 83.! of th spring 83 to securely hold the strap and thus hold the golf bag in place.

As shown in Figs. 17 and 20 the clip '18 secures the cross bar 11 to the frame member 25by fastenings 9| whereby it may be adjusted along the member or completely removed therefrom without disturbing the fastenings of the springs to the cross arm 11.

In the operation of the device shown, the golf bag is readily attached to or removed from cart structure when the parts are in either of the positions shown in Figs. 1 or 2; but usually it will be left attached to the trundle and stored together therewith. In storage, the parts of the trundle will be in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 2. Then to spread the wheels apart it will be convenient for the operator to place his foot against the saddle and pull up on the handle 21 until the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. When the saddle is fully depressed, the toggle links 32, 33 and 34 lock the parts against accidental replacement.

It is also desirable to press the lever 13 toward the handle bar 27 to prevent this from shifting in the guide member 29.

To bring the parts to the folded position shown in Fig. 2, the lever 13 is lifted so as to release the bar 21 and then the operator holds the bar 25 with one hand while he thrusts the bar 2! downward along the bar 25, whereupon the cable 61 lifts the saddle 35 and collapses the toggle mechanism so as to bring all the parts together in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 2.

When the parts are in relative positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1, the device can stand stably in an upright position or can be tilted backward to rest stably on its wheels and handle with the bag supported in a horizontal position close to the ground. Similarly, when the legs are folded together with the toggle members collapsed as in Fig. 2, the device will stand stably on its wheels in an upright position or when tilted back on its handle, for compact storage.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it is understood that numerous details of the structure shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A golf bag cart, comprising a pair of wheels, separate axles therefor, fittings fixed on said axles, a pair of frame bars respectively hinged at their lower ends to said axle fittings and hingedly connected together at their upper ends, a pair of toggle links hingedly connected together at their inner ends and having their outer ends respectively hinged to said axle fittings for toggle movement substantially in the plane of said frame bars, and yieldable detent means on said axle fittings interposed between and bearing on said toggle links and their respective frame bars to hold said axles in approximate alinement with each other in the wheel-bracing position of said toggle links.

2. A golf bag cart, comprising a pair of wheels, separate axles therefor, fittings fixed on said axles, a pair of frame bars respectively hinged at their lower ends to said axle fittings and hingedly connected together at their upper ends,

a pair of toggle links hingedly connected together at their inner ends and having their outer ends respectively hinged to said axle fittings for toggle movement in the plane of said frame bars, and yieldable detent means on said axle fittings interposed between and bearing upon said toggle links and their respective frame bars to hold said axles in approximate alinement with each other in both of the limiting positions of said toggle links.

3. A golf bag cart, comprising a main frame member, means for supporting a golf bag thereon, a pair of side frame members swingably connected at their upper ends to swing in symmetrical substantially radial planes toward and away from said main frame member, a pair of trundle wheels journalled at the lower ends of said side frame members respectively, a pair of spreader links having their outer ends pivotally connected respectively to said side frame members adjacent to said wheels, a saddle pivotally connecting the inner ends of said spreader bars, shoulders on said saddle to limit the downward movement of said spreader links, brace means connecting said saddle to said main frame member and coacting with said spreader bars to hold said frame members in stable tripod relation to each other, a handle bar mounted to slide along said main frame member, a pulley journalled on said main frame member, and a flexible cable passing over said pulley and having portions at opposite sides of said pulley attached to said saddle and said handle bar for lifting said saddle through movement of said handle bar.

4. A golf bag trundle, comprising a main frame member, means for supporting a golf bag thereon, a pair of side frame members pivoted at their upper ends to said main frame member for swinging in respective radial planes toward and away from said main frame member, wheels mounted at the lower ends of said side frame members, toggle linkage mechanism for spreading said side frame members apart and away from said main frame member at their lower ends, a handle bar, a guide member pivotally connected to one end of said handle bar and formed to slide vertically along said main frame member, a second guide member pivotally connected to said main frame member for swinging in a plane radially between said side frame members and slidable longitudinally on said handle bar, and means connecting said handle bar to said toggle linkage and acting to swing said frame members toward each other through the shifting of said handle bar on said main frame member.

FRITZ ALTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,505,440 Taber et a1. Apr. 25, 1950 2,518,803 Marvin Aug. 15, 1950 2,563,033 Greig Aug. '7, 1951 

